We begin a new book today, the great book of Acts. Think of it as the Acts of the Apostles. Let us get right into it and verse 1 reads.
Acts 1:1] The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
Check out this word “treatise”, it is “Logos” in the Greek (G3056). We know this word as Jesus Christ. But in this case, I think it should have been translated “The sayings of God”. And Theophilus should have been translated “friend of God.” instead of being transliterated. Luke being the writer of Acts, is saying “as I have said before and am about to write, this is the Word of God.”
Acts 1:2] Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
[3] To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
For forty days we ate and drank with him while he directed us and gave us his commandments.
Acts 1:4] And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
This is written in Luke 24:49 and it reads.
Luke 24:49] And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Back to Acts and we continue with verse 5.
Acts 1:5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
It would be 10 days later that the Holy Spirit would come into them.
Acts 1:6] When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
[7] And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
They would be concerned about the end times, and Jesus brings up “times or seasons”. Daniel would say in Dan.12:10 “The wise would understand”. That would be us now in the end times to know IF and only if God has opened our eyes. But Jesus brings them back to what he talking about. The Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
You are witnesses for me to both the house of Israel and Judah, then to all the world. Now teach them. When you have a good teacher, and you should always check your teachers, you should feel the Holy Spirit speaking through them. Because it should be the Word of God that you hear. If you don’t feel the Holy Spirit, then maybe he is not a good teacher, and should be checked out.
Acts 1:9] And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
[10] And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Always with two witnesses, these would with no doubt be the two that stand by the throne of God.
Acts 1:11] Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
The second advent, when Jesus returns, He will come down right here at Mount of Olives. Zec.9:10.
Acts 1:12] Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.
One can only travel ¾ of a mile on the sabbath.
Acts 1:13] And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
This Judas and James are both Jesus’s half-brothers, they are of the Eleven.
Acts 1:14] These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
[15] And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
These being the 11 Apostles and family of Jesus with 120 make up the first church. It will grow quickly.
Acts 1:16] Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
You probably wondered why I in the past I stuck up for Judas. This is why, Judas fulfilled prophesy written by David. Judas brings in the promise from God. Let’s go to Psa.41:9-11 and read.
Psa.41:9] Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
[10] But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
[11] By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
Back to Acts and verse 17 reads.
Acts 1:17] For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
[18] Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
This is how Judas died. It is said that he committed suicide. No, he was cut from his Adams apple to below his naval, and his guts fell out on the ground. I would say he had a lot of help. Remember who he was dealing with? It was the Kenites, they could not have him around to witness what they had done.
Acts 1:19] And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
Everyone knows in Judea that Judas bought the field that the poor can be buried in. the bigger picture I want you to know is, it is called the Potters field. Where all the broken vessels are tossed. Meaning to all the broken people, Jesus can put you together again.
Acts 1:20] For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
Let’s go to Psa.69:32-33 and read.
Psa.69:32] The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
[33] For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
And Zec.11:10-13 reads.
Zec.11:10] And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it assunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.
[11] And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.
[12] And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
[13] And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
So, Judas fulfilled the Word of the Lord. Now all the poor in spirit can also have salvation. Back to Acts and verse 21 reads.
Acts 1:21] Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
[22] Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
This means that the next Apostle must have witnessed everything from his baptism to when he was with them the 40 days. There must have been many. We think of it, the women, and their families. So, they choose two.
Acts 1:23] And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
[24] And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
[25] That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
[26] And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Now they have 12 again. 12 in biblical numerics means “government fulfillment”. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible